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The Rosanero's highly talented Argentine recovered to score a crucial hat-trick against their rivals...

15-11-2010 -- Palermo won the first Sicilian derby of the season with a 3-1 win over Catania, courtesy of a hat-trick from the influential Javier Pastore at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in a match full of scoring chances.

The hosts had some good news at the start as Pastore, who was a major doubt to feature, recovered to play in the contest and was in the starting XI, as was captain Fabrizio Miccoli, who made his first start since recovering from a long-term injury.

Meanwhile, Catania had a number of key players missing, including Ciro Capuano, Pablo Ledesma, and Ezequiel Carboni. Coming into the match both sides were level on 14 points in the standings.

The match started at a slow pace, though Antonio Nocerino went down in the penalty area, but the referee waved play on as the midfielder went down rather easily under pressure.

Despite being on the back foot in the early part of the clash, Catania missed a golden chance to open the scoring. A long ball for Alejandor Gomez broke the offside trap and he flicked the ball over the defender before taking a strike from a tough angle, it was saved by goalkeeper Salvatore Sirgiu, though somehow Maxi Lopez failed to tuck away the rebound, firing over the net.

The Etnei were dangerous on the counter, as Maxi Lopez showed quick feet to dribble through three players, but no one was quick enough to get onto his dangerous cross.

Mariano Andujar made a miraculous save on Miccoli's volley, but the hosts did get one past the goalkeeper soon after. Armin Bacinovic chipped over the defence for full-back Federico Balzaretti's run, who put in a pinpoint cross for Pastore to head into the bottom corner and make it 1-0.